Week 5 – Anime

What is the ‘shōjo’ and how does it often function in anime? 

Shōjo is a term that literally translates to “little female”, and in manga and anime is used to describe the transitional time between childhood and adulthood for young girls, usually aged 12 to 13 (Cavallaro, 2006). According to Berndt (2019), shōjo can refer to a genre aimed at female audiences, or to the character type of an adolescent girl. The main imagery used in shōjo is that of innocence, purity, virginity, vulnerability, and romantic nostalgia, but this is often contrasted with themes of sexuality and vulgarity, highlighting the transitional period of adolescence and its shift from child innocence to adult discovery (Berndt, 2019).  

Mesuda (2015) argues that the function of shōjo in anime is to help young girls navigate the challenges and struggles they face in their lives. Whether it be adapting to the changes happening in their bodies, navigating difficulties with family and friends, or searching for their own sense of identity, shōjo stories have functioned to help young girls explore these issues and provide encouragement along the way (Mesuda, 2015). 

However, Hairston (2015) argues that in modern manga and anime, shōjo character roles are limited to selective archetypes. These include: the magical girl who uses supernatural powers to solve problems, the romantic girl who just wants the perfect boy to fall in love with her, the cute girlfriend who exists solely as a plot device next to the main male character, and the “girls with guns” archetype where they are depicted as beautiful but deadly (Hairston, 2015). Many depictions of shōjo also serve the function of emphasizing the subservience and obedience expected of girls and women (Sugawa-Shimada, 2019). 

The emergence of the mahō shōjo, or magical girl, also attempted to subvert the stereotypes of shōjo in anime (Sugawa-Shimada, 2019). For example, powerful young girls such as those in Sailor Moon defy the meek and obedient archetype as they fight against their villains by themselves (Sugawa-Shimada, 2019). Many mahō shōjo characters also exist to challenge gender roles, explore female sexuality, and show female empowerment (Sugawa-Shimada, 2019).  

Both Hairston (2015) and Cavallaro (2006) point out that the films of Hayao Miyazaki defy these common shōjo stereotypes, as his female characters are strong, independent, inquisitive, well-rounded and active in their agency. For example, San from Princess Mononoke is a fiercely independent warrior who is also compassionate, as exhibited in the scene where she tries to suck out a bullet from the injured Wolf God (Cavallaro, 2006). Her bloodstained face is confronting and shows the viewer her grit, and this is contrasted when we realize she is covered in blood to help another being, showing her caring and nurturing side (Cavallaro, 2006). Other examples in Miyazaki’s films include Kiki in Kiki’s Delivery Service, who goes on an adventure in a new city all by herself while still an adolescent, Chihiro fighting a powerful sorceress to save her parents in Spirited Away, and Nausicaä exploring, flying, and fighting to the death, to save her people in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. While the sole function of shōjo in anime can be for how they look or the comedic effect they bring, Miyazaki’s characters function as serious role models that inspire and emotionally move the viewer (Hairston, 2015).  

References 

Berndt, J. (2019). Introduction: Shōjo mediations. In Berndt, J., Nagaike, K., & Ogi, F (Eds.), Shōjo across media: Exploring girl practices in contemporary Japan (1-21). Springer International Publishing AG. 

Cavallaro, D. (2006). The anime art of Hayao Miyazaki. McFarland & Company. 

Hairston, M. (2015). Miyazaki’s view of shojo. In Toku, M (Eds.), International perspectives on shojo and shojo manga: The influence of girl culture (101-108). Taylor & Francis Group. 

Masuda, N. (2015). Shojo manga and its acceptance: What is the power of shojo manga? In Toku, M (Eds.), International perspectives on shojo and shojo manga: The influence of girl culture (23–31). Taylor & Francis Group. 

Sugawa-Shimada, A. (2019). Shōjo in anime: Beyond the object of men’s desire. In Berndt, J., Nagaike, K., & Ogi, F (Eds.), Shōjo across media: Exploring girl practices in contemporary Japan (181-206). Springer International Publishing AG.